Screenwriting competitions provide a great avenue for new writers to get their work out there.
There are many different types of screenwriting contests, and some even specialize in specific genres such as horror or comedy.
Screenwriting competitions are an excellent way to get feedback on your work and win prizes!
There are many different types of screenwriting contests- some focus specifically on a certain genre, others offer cash prizes.
BEST SCREENWRITING CONTESTS
What Are Screenwriting Contests?
Screenwriting contests are a great way to get your script in front of industry professionals.
ScreenCraft offers the ScreenCraft Fellowship, an annual competition that awards the winner $25,000 and connects them with top agents and managers.
The contest comes with feedback for all entries as well as coverage on their website, which has helped many writers find representation.
Some contests require that you pay a fee to enter while others do not. It is important to research the competition before submitting your screenplay because there are so many out there!
Screenwriting competitions have opened up opportunities for writers to reach wider audiences and get their work seen by Hollywood insiders.
The competition is open to all who are interested in entering, but there are a few rules that must be followed:
- The script must not exceed 120 pages (double spaced).
- It must be the original work of the entrant.
- No more than one entry per person will be accepted.
What Are Screenwriting Competitions?
Screenwriting competitions are a great way to help you get your name out there and gain recognition in the industry.
Winning awards for screenplays can also provide monetary prizes that can be used to fund future projects, or even just pay off student loans.
Competitions come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s important to find one that suits your style of writing best.
There is no shame in entering into more than one competition- some offer feedback on entries after they’ve been submitted, which could lead you down a path to success!
Best Screenwriting Contests
The best screenwriting contests are not always the easiest to find. They’re usually a little more creative than just searching Google for “screenwriting contest” and clicking on the first link that comes up.
A screenwriter’s dreams often start with a screenplay. But there is more to it than just writing a script: in order for your story to be seen, you need to know how to submit it – and that means knowing where the best contests are.
Screenwriting contests are a great way to hone your skills and get feedback from industry professionals.
There are several reputable screenwriting contests out there, but if you’re looking for the best of the best, this guide is just for you!
Let’s jump right into our list without further ado.
Austin Screenwriting Competition
Austin Screenwriting Competition is a new screenwriting contest for Austin, TX. The competition will be judged by industry professionals from the film and television industries.
There are many prizes to be won including cash prizes, consultations with staff writers at major studios and production companies, as well as other opportunities such as introductions to agents and managers.
The Austin Screenwriting Competition is open exclusively to residents of Texas (including those living abroad) who have not been professionally represented in Hollywood or had their work published through a major studio or production company – this includes publishing deals with major publishers like Random House, Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, etc.
Austin Screenwriting Competition was created to provide an opportunity for aspiring screenwriters to develop and complete their projects.
The competition is open to all genres of scripts, including: drama, comedy, romance, suspense/thriller, horror and science fiction.
The script must be a minimum of 75 pages in length and the maximum page limit is 125 pages. All entries are due by December 31 at 11:59 pm CST with no exceptions or extensions.
In order to enter your script into this year’s competition you will need to be 18 years or older; have been born on or after January 1st 1996; reside in the United States (including Puerto Rico); not currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student at any college or university
The Austin Screenwriting Competition is one of the longest-running screenwriting competitions in the country. The competition attracts writers from around the globe, including some of Hollywood’s biggest names.
The contest was started by a group of local filmmakers with a love for movies and screenplays to help aspiring writers achieve their dreams.
Austin Screenwriting Competition is a competition for screenwriters living in Austin, Texas.
The contest offers $10,000 in prizes and has been open to submissions since the beginning of 2018. It will be accepting submissions until January 15th 2019.
Slamdance Screenplay Competition
In a world where writers are faced with the daunting task of finding an agent, let alone getting published, Slamdance is here to offer one more option.
The first screenwriting competition of its kind in the United States, this contest was created for those who want their work read and recognized by industry professionals but don’t have access to traditional means of publication.
The Slamdance Screenplay Competition is a screenplay competition created by filmmaker, Peter Baxter.
The contest is open to anyone in the world and there are three categories: short (under 20 pages), long (over 50 pages), and TV/web Series pilot over 50 pages.
The Slamdance Screenplay Competition is a yearly contest that awards prizes to the best unproduced screenplays. The competition has been held since 1995 and they have helped launch over 300 films into production.
Slamdance is an annual film festival that features independent films from around the world. This year, Slamdance has launched a screenwriting competition to encourage aspiring screenwriters in their craft and help them get their scripts into production.
Script Competition Requirements
Script competitions are a great way to get noticed in the world of screenwriting. They can also be lucrative, with prizes ranging from $200 to well over $10,000 depending on the competition.
What are some requirements for entering?
There are many different types of script competitions out there and each one has its own set of eligibility requirements that you should carefully read before submitting your screenplay or teleplay.
Some require entrants to be residents in a specific country while others have age restrictions like 18+.
Furthermore, most contests only accept entries within certain genres such as comedy or thriller; so make sure you know what they’re looking for!
Script competitions are a fantastic way to get your work read by industry insiders. It’s also a great opportunity for you to have feedback from people in the biz, and maybe even win some prizes!
I’m going to go through the requirements of two different script competitions that I’ve been reading about recently, and then give my opinion on which one looks more interesting.
The first competition is called “Morton Street Script Competition”, with submission deadlines in January and September each year.
The second competition is called “For Your Consideration Screenplay Contest” with submission deadlines around November each year.
First up, Morton Street:
-Screenplays must be entered as PDF documents or emailed as attachments (no hard copies)
Do you want to be a screenwriter? Have you written scripts before and are looking for more information on the requirements?
Script competitions are a great way to get feedback on your writing and also have the chance to win prizes.
However, they’re not all the same! Some ask for scripts that are 5 pages or less in length while others require 10-page scripts.
Some contests allow you to submit multiple entries while others only allow one entry per contest. Consider what kind of script competition best suits your needs before submitting anything.
Nicholl Fellowship
The Nicholl Fellowship has been awarded annually since 1985 to aspiring screenwriters. The contest is open to any and all entrants, and the winner receives a $35,000 cash prize as well as scripts from past finalists for further study.
The Nicholl Fellowship is a prestigious competition that awards up to five fellowships of US$35,000 each year.
To enter the contest, you must submit an original feature length screenplay and entry fee by November 1st at 11:59pm PST.
The Nicholl Fellowship is one of the most prestigious screenwriting contests in Hollywood. It’s also among the oldest, having launched back in 1985 with a $50,000 prize for first place.
The winner gets to attend a live reading of their script and participate in an awards ceremony where they are celebrated by some of Tinseltown’s heavy hitters.
The Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting is one of the best screenwriting contests for getting your script noticed and read by people who work in the industry.
The program was established to identify and encourage talented new screenwriters, provide them with opportunities to hear their works read aloud, introduced to agents and producers, enter a network of creative professionals and establish relationships among writers from all over the world.
ScreenCraft Screenplay Contest
The ScreenCraft Screenplay Contest is a contest that offers aspiring writers the chance to have their screenplay made into an original film or series.
It’s open to all screenwriters and scripts must be in English, delivered electronically, and contain no more than 120 pages (with standard formatting).
ScreenCraft is a screenwriting contest that gives aspiring screenwriters the opportunity to have their work read and judged by Hollywood executives.
There are five different award categories, including comedy, drama, horror/thriller, action/adventure, and family-friendly. Screencraft also offers screenplay development services for those who want feedback on their scripts before entering into the competition.
The ScreenCraft Screenplay Contest is an international screenwriting competition with a cash award of $10,000 for the winner. The contest’s aim is to encourage and promote new voices in screenplay writing and provide professional feedback for all entrants.
The ScreenCraft Screenplay Contest is an annual screenplay contest for emerging screenwriters.
Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest
The
The contest aims to provide aspiring screenwriters with feedback from industry professionals and the opportunity to have their script made into a film.
The Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest has been created by
In addition to this contest, they offer tutorials, contests, and events for writers of all levels which aim to educate them about the art of writing scripts in general.
Do you have the next great screenplay idea?
Final Draft is hosting a contest to find out! The
The winner will receive their prize in person at the Global Writer’s Conference in October. If you think YOU are the one who has what it takes, head over to finaldraft.com/bigbreak for more information on how to enter your script today!
This contest has been running for over 20 years and is designed to help amateur screenwriters get their scripts in front of industry professionals.
Page Screenplay Contest
Have you ever wanted to write a screenplay but don’t know where to start? Well, the Page Screenplay Contest is your chance! Founded by Jake Gyllenhaal and Jimmy Fallon, this national competition is open to anyone in grades 6-12.
In addition to cash prizes of $10,000 for 1st place and $5,000 for 2nd place (don’t miss out on that!), winners will also have their script read by an industry professional and receive a “critique” from two Hollywood screenwriters.
The deadline is coming up so hurry over and sign up!
Are you a screenwriter? Have you been working on your script and want to send it out for feedback? Well, have we got the perfect contest for you!
Screenwriters, are you looking for a creative outlet? The Page Screenplay Contest is your chance to win cash prizes and have your screenplay read by Hollywood producers.
Prizes range from $500 (3rd place) up to $5,000 (1st place). All screenplays will be judged on creativity, quality of writing, and originality.
The Page Screenplay Contest awards $10,000 to a single screenwriter and is open to any writer 18 years of age or older. The winner will be chosen by an independent panel of judges from the film industry.
Sundance Screenwriters’ Lab
Do you have a script that needs to be looked at by the most talented professionals in Hollywood? The Sundance Screenwriters’ Lab is an intense five-day program, designed for top writers from around the world.
This lab will give you feedback and support on your work, as well as access to mentors and industry leaders.
Sundance Screenwriters’ Lab is an intensive six-week program that puts emerging screenwriters through the wringer, all in the name of creating a better screenplay.
Sundance Screenwriters’ Lab is a ten-day event that offers writers the opportunity to share their work with professional screenwriters and directors. Participants are given feedback on their work from notable professionals, opportunities to network with industry insiders, and guidance for pitching or selling their scripts.
This year’s lab will be held in Provo, Utah at Brigham Young University.
Interested applicants must submit an original feature film screenplay to Sundance by December 4th 2016.
The Sundance Screenwriters’ Lab is one of the most prestigious and selective screenwriting labs in the country. The lab provides a writer with an opportunity to spend up to six months living on-campus, working on their screenplay.
During this time they have access to mentors from all over Hollywood, including producers, directors, and agents.
Tracking Board Launch Pad
The Tracking Board Launch Pad is an annual screenwriting competition that was created in 2015 to discover and champion the next generation of talent in Hollywood.
The non-profit organization provides opportunities for emerging writers to have their work read by top executives, producers, managers, and agents. TBLP has three categories: television, film, and digital content.
Each category has its own awards. Scripts are judged by a panel of industry professionals including producers, managers, agents, and development executives.
Winners are announced at the annual party held during the Cannes Film Festival.
The competition is open to anyone 18 years old or older who is a legal resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec). There is no fee to enter.
BlueCat Screenplay Competition
If you’re a writer and want to get your script noticed, the BlueCat Screenplay Competition is an opportunity for you.
It’s an annual competition that offers winners cash prizes, industry connections, and introductions to agents.
The contest includes five categories: Dramatic Feature, Comedy Feature, TV Pilot, Half Hour TV Series, and One-Hour TV Series.
The BlueCat Screenplay Competition is a screenplay competition that offers the winning writer $50,000 in cash and prizes.
The contest’s success has been attributed to its commitment to discovering new talent and giving them an opportunity to be recognized.
There are many screenplay competitions available to aspiring screenwriters.
For those who want an alternative to the cliché, Hollywood-centric contests like the Academy Awards or Sundance Film Festival, there is the BlueCat Screenplay Competition.
The BlueCat Screenplay Competition is a nonprofit organization that recognizes outstanding achievement in screenwriting. They offer two genres of screenplay competition, the Drama/Comedy and the TV Pilot competitions.
For these competitions, they ask for scripts to be submitted with no entry fee or reading fee required.
Cinestory Foundation Fellowship
The Cinestory Foundation Fellowship is a one-year program that supports emerging documentary filmmakers from the US and abroad.
The Cinestory Foundation Fellowship is a one-year grant that provides $50,000 and mentorship to filmmakers whose work addresses the most pressing social issues of our time.
For the past two years, Cinestory Foundation has been committed to supporting female filmmakers in their careers. The organization was founded by a group of women that worked in TV and film production together for over 25 years.
They wanted to create an outlet where they could give back and help other female artists have access to resources like themselves had when they were starting out.
With a focus on nurturing emerging talent, providing skills development opportunities, and increasing representation through visibility, the non-profit is making strides towards gender parity in storytelling—one filmmaker at a time [1].
Cinestory Foundation is a company that offers fellowships to emerging filmmakers. They offer $25,000 in unrestricted funding and mentorship opportunities for the duration of one year.
The fellowship is open to all types of filmmaking – from documentaries to narrative films, feature-length or short-form video installations, animation, and even experimental forms.
Finish Line Script Competition
The “Finish Line Script Competition is a competition for aspiring screenwriters who want to showcase their talent. They are looking for scripts that have the potential of being packaged and sold as a movie.
The Finish Line Script Competition is a contest for high school students to write the best screenplay.
This competition was founded by the Flicks and Filmmakers International Film Festival in order to encourage young people into writing screenplays, because unfortunately there are not many film colleges or universities that offer degrees in screenwriting.
The race is on, the finish line is in sight, and you’re feeling like there’s no way you can make it. You’re tired and your muscles ache from all the training.
All of a sudden someone reaches out their hands to help push you forward. It’s your coach – they’ve been with you every step of the way, rooting for you right up until this moment. They know how hard it has been but they are still right by your side cheering loudly as you cross that finish line!
We are pleased to announce the start of a new competition for screenwriters. The Finish Line Script Competition is looking for original scripts in any genre, but with an emphasis on comedy and horror films.
The goal of this contest is to have writers work collaboratively with script consultants that will provide feedback and support throughout the process.
Once a script has been chosen as the winner, it will be produced by our partners at Screencraft Studios, who specialize in low-budget feature films (such as “I Can’t Feel My Legs” and “Gertrude”).
This contest provides new opportunities for emerging filmmakers because there are no limitations on what type or length of film can be submitted to the competition.
Nantucket Film Festival
Nantucket Film Festival is seeking screenplays for its annual competition. The winning screenplay will be produced into a feature film and presented at the Nantucket Film Festival.
The Nantucket Film Festival Screenplay Contest is open to all writers of original, finished feature-length screenplays – no adaptations or treatments – that have not yet secured financing.
The scripts must be written in English, with dialogue in English, not subtitled. Submissions must be for a feature-length film (90 minutes or more).
No TV pilots or short films will be accepted. The judging panel reserves the right to refuse any script regardless of genre or length.
Scripts must be entirely original works of fiction and are not suitable if they contain explicit sex acts, extreme violence, or graphic language/depictions.
Zoetrope
Francis Ford Coppola’s Zoetrope studio is hosting a scriptwriting contest with a $1,000 prize.
The contest accepts short films up to 15 minutes and feature-length scripts up to 120 pages.
If your story takes place in San Francisco, you can also apply for “Best San Francisco Story.” This will be judged by Coppola himself and will net the winner an additional $1,000.
New Media Film Festival
The New Media Film Festival (NMFF), founded in 2007, is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to promoting new media art and artists.
The NMFF supports the creation and exhibition of films, videos, interactive installations, and multi-media presentations that experiment with new approaches to cinematic expression.
The festival celebrates artists who use technology as an expressive medium for storytelling, community building, and artistic collaboration within an open forum atmosphere.
NMFF & The Screenwriters Lab is now accepting submissions for feature-length scripts in the genres of Action/Adventure, Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, and Thriller.
The top 10 scripts will be selected by the Festival staff and considered for inclusion in the NMFF’s 8th annual New Media Film Festival taking place at the historic Egyptian Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles.
How To Enter Screenwriting Contests?
Screenwriting contests are a great way to get your screenplay noticed. But with all the different film festivals, competitions, and other types of screenwriting contests out there it can be difficult to know which is best for you.
The process of entering writing contests can be quite daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. There are a lot of things that you should know before you start the challenging task of submitting your screenplay to any contest.
If you want to enter screenwriting contests, there are many things that you need to do in order for your screenplay to be considered.
First of all, it is important that the screenplay has been registered with www.screenrights.com and is not copyrighted.
If this is not the case, then a $25 fee must be paid through their website and the script must undergo an evaluation process before it can be submitted for consideration as outlined on our site or by emailing us at info@screenrights.com .
Second of all, only original scripts will be accepted; if yours isn’t original then you’ll have to get permission from the copyright holder in order for it to qualify under fair use laws which may result in additional fees
The screenwriting contest scene is an exciting one. There are so many contests out there that you can’t help but be intimidated by the sheer volume of them.
Luckily, we’re here to tell you how to enter a contest and make your screenplay as strong as possible!
Are Screenwriting Contests Worth It?
Screenwriting contests are a great way to get feedback on your screenplay and an opportunity for exposure, but they can also be costly.
Many people think that winning a screenwriting contest will give them the fame and fortune they want in Hollywood, but there’s more to it than you may realize.
The benefits of screenwriting contests vary depending on how much money you spend entering the contest.
Screenwriting contests are a great way for aspiring screenwriters to get their script seen and recognized by Hollywood professionals.
However, many screenwriters don’t know if they should spend the time entering contests or not. This article will discuss whether or not these contests are worth it so that you can be informed on the topic.
Screenwriting contests are a great way to get your screenplay out there, but it can be difficult to find the right one.
A screenwriting contest is a competition in which writers submit their scripts to be judged by professionals and the public.
Screenwriting contests are an excellent way for aspiring screenwriters to get constructive feedback on their work, as well as an opportunity to have their screenplay read by industry professionals.
However, it’s important not to enter every single contest out there because many of them charge fees that are too high or don’t provide enough opportunities for recognition.
One example of this would be entering your script into a film festival without first submitting it to any contests; if you’re going straight from idea stage into submission mode, then chances are you’ll end up paying more than intended and receiving less than desired results.
Don’t Forget To Format Your Screenplay
If you’re a screenwriter, formatting your screenplay properly is important.
I don’t know about you, but I’m always forgetting to format my screenplay. There are so many times when I had a great idea for a script and can’t find the time to write it down because of all the formatting!
Do you have a screenplay that’s been sitting idle in your computer? You might be missing out on some serious opportunities!
Formatting your screenplay is an essential step that many screenwriters neglect, but it can make all the difference.
There are a lot of different ways to format your screenplay, and it can be difficult to know which one is the correct way.
Make sure you format your screenplay with industry-standard formatting rules will make it easier for agents or producers reading your script.
Pick Out The Right Script Competition
So you want to be a screenwriter? That’s great!
I’m sure that there are many people who love your ideas and would be happy if you could bring them to life on the big screen. But first, it is important for you to know what type of script competition is right for you.
There are different types of competitions out there, so let me break down some basics before we go into detail about each one.
There are a lot of competitions to choose from when you’re looking for an opportunity to showcase your talent.
But not all of these opportunities are created equal.
If you want to get the best chance for success in Hollywood, it’s important that you do your research and find out which competition is right for you.
The Script Pipeline Competition has been designed specifically with screenwriters in mind, so if that’s what interests you most, this might be the perfect place for you.
There are many different types of scripts competitions and it can be overwhelming when trying to figure out which one is best for you. Some people look at previous winning scripts as a way to gauge the competitiveness of a particular contest.
Others may decide on a competition based on the genre they’re writing in or what region they live in. The key is finding a competition that fits your needs whether that’s looking for feedback or wanting to be judged by industry professionals.
If you’re an aspiring screenwriter and want to get your film script read by the right people, then you need to know all about the various screenplay competitions.
You can find a list of them below and we’ve also included some tips on what makes for good competition entries:
- Make sure your script is in standard format.
- Keep it under 100 pages.
- Include a logline or synopsis in the first paragraph of your submission letter.
Are Screenwriting Contests A Waste Of Time?
Screenwriting contests are a popular way for screenwriters to get their work read by industry professionals, but the question is, do they really lead to “success”?
There’s no doubt that having your script read by somebody in the industry can be exciting and any feedback you receive may help make it better. But when you factor in all the time spent entering these contests, does it really serve its purpose?
It takes an average of 12 minutes for someone to read a contest-submitted screenplay. The odds of winning are slim (less than 1% chance) so if you enter 10 contests and spend an hour on each one, that’s 100 hours just getting your script looked at!
That doesn’t even include the time spent submitting or
If you’re thinking about entering a screenwriting contest, there are some things to take into account.
Firstly, contests are not for the faint of heart. They can be expensive and time-consuming.
You have to pay an entry fee and sometimes spend hours writing a screenplay from scratch in order to meet the deadlines.
The next question is: what do you get out of it? Getting your script read by industry professionals is great, but if they don’t like it enough to buy it or want you as their protege then that’s $35+ worth of disappointment on your end.
Screenwriting contests are a common way for screenwriters to get their work out there and get feedback. But do these contests actually help or should you just stay away?
Aspiring screenwriters are often at a loss when it comes to getting their work seen and read. Screenwriting contests can be an excellent opportunity for a writer to get feedback on their work, as well as recognition by industry professionals.
However, there is some debate about the effectiveness of this practice.
Some say that if you enter enough contests, eventually one will result in success – but others argue that these contests are not worth the time investment, and energy spent submitting your scripts over and over again.
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